Consequences of Mutations in the SPG7 Gene at the Heterozygous State

Paraplegin, encoded by the SPG7 gene, is an ATP-dependent mAAA protease located in the inner mitochondrial membrane. Its function is not fully understood. Mutations in the SPG7 gene are responsible for spastic paraplegia type 7. Although spastic paraplegia type 7 is considered to be a recessive disease, some clinical observations also point to a detrimental effect of a variant in SPG7 in the heterozygous state. Thus, the presence of a single mutated variant of the SPG7 gene could be a risk factor for the development of neurological diseases. This has important implications for genetic counseling of patients and for the understanding of the function of the SPG7 protein and the mechanisms of disease development.